I can’t remember such a fast start to the week - two 7 minute solves in a row.
Today wasn’t plain sailing though - FOI 6ac and LOI 9ac showing how much I had to jump about the grid. A crucial checking letter here and there kept up the momentum even through the rather trickier bottom half. Some good, devious clues here - for which thank you Tracy - only fully appreciated when analysing for the blog. All comments welcomed especially the fine definition between more humble establishments and 2dn.
ACROSS
1. On the spot - here immediately. 'Here' seems to be part of the definition and also the word play - a pink (indeed any non-red) ball at snooker is replaced 'here' on its spot if potted after a red.
2. Con - swindle. (C)ompany, working (ON).
8. Chatter - idle talk. About (C - circa), milliner (HATTER).
9. Knave - double definition - jack the playing card and knave=cad.
10. Convalescent - one recuperating. Beers (ALES) and cold (C) inside sister's house (CONVENT).
12. Armada - fleet of warships. Anagram (unfolding) of A DRAMA. Nice surface.
13. Galaxy - collection of stars. Happy (GAY) entertaining (inside which is) loose (LAX).
16. Hair of the dog - advocated (in the sense of generally recommended) hangover cure. Anagram (restored) of HER GOOD FAITH.
19. Alpha - Greek character. Inside loc(AL PHA)rmacy.
20. One taking class - teacher. Anagram (punished) of CHEATER.
22. Toy - play thing. (T)ouch(Y) about old (O).
23. Easy terms - double definition.
DOWN
1. Once - long ago. Individual (ONE) around (touring) clubs (C).
2. Tearoom - restaurant - Collins has both spellings - tearoom and tea room. How splendid that such establishments still exist (I just looked up to check) despite all the 'brand' coffee shops and other eateries these days. Can they be much different from the cafes I gratefully come across when walking in the Peak District? Rent (TEAR), low - cows low=moo - rising (OOM).
3. Eat - have a meal (if in a tearoom would it be cucumber sandwiches and earl grey?). In Chels(EA T)rattoria - which is surely not a tearoom.
4. Parole - prisoners conditional release. The governor (father = PA), a part to play (ROLE).
5. Take shape - fall into place. Appropriate (TAKE), anagram (new) of PHASE.
6. Crate - old car. Constant (C in maths), speed (RATE).
7. No entry - road sign. Attempt (TRY) to follow neon rising (NOEN).
11. Videotape - recording? The question mark shows it’s just one example of a recording. About as dated as tearoom these days. Anagram (remarkable) of VOTE IPAD, simpl(E).
12. At heart - really (despite some tough clues the QC is generally quite gentle at heart). I thought the word play was intriguingly devious - try (HEAR) inside a TT (ATT).
14. Another - alternative. Anagram (alien - quite an anagram indicator - from Collins - You use alien to describe something that seems strange) of ON EARTH.
15. Status - class. Say mostly (STAT)e, American (US). COD amongst some hot contenders.
17. Imply - suggest. Only having taken the lead letter out - s(IMPLY).
18. Eros - Greek god. Resentful sore - rises (EROS).
19. Act - deed. A (A), court (CT).
Today wasn’t plain sailing though - FOI 6ac and LOI 9ac showing how much I had to jump about the grid. A crucial checking letter here and there kept up the momentum even through the rather trickier bottom half. Some good, devious clues here - for which thank you Tracy - only fully appreciated when analysing for the blog. All comments welcomed especially the fine definition between more humble establishments and 2dn.
ACROSS
1. On the spot - here immediately. 'Here' seems to be part of the definition and also the word play - a pink (indeed any non-red) ball at snooker is replaced 'here' on its spot if potted after a red.
2. Con - swindle. (C)ompany, working (ON).
8. Chatter - idle talk. About (C - circa), milliner (HATTER).
9. Knave - double definition - jack the playing card and knave=cad.
10. Convalescent - one recuperating. Beers (ALES) and cold (C) inside sister's house (CONVENT).
12. Armada - fleet of warships. Anagram (unfolding) of A DRAMA. Nice surface.
13. Galaxy - collection of stars. Happy (GAY) entertaining (inside which is) loose (LAX).
16. Hair of the dog - advocated (in the sense of generally recommended) hangover cure. Anagram (restored) of HER GOOD FAITH.
19. Alpha - Greek character. Inside loc(AL PHA)rmacy.
20. One taking class - teacher. Anagram (punished) of CHEATER.
22. Toy - play thing. (T)ouch(Y) about old (O).
23. Easy terms - double definition.
DOWN
1. Once - long ago. Individual (ONE) around (touring) clubs (C).
2. Tearoom - restaurant - Collins has both spellings - tearoom and tea room. How splendid that such establishments still exist (I just looked up to check) despite all the 'brand' coffee shops and other eateries these days. Can they be much different from the cafes I gratefully come across when walking in the Peak District? Rent (TEAR), low - cows low=moo - rising (OOM).
3. Eat - have a meal (if in a tearoom would it be cucumber sandwiches and earl grey?). In Chels(EA T)rattoria - which is surely not a tearoom.
4. Parole - prisoners conditional release. The governor (father = PA), a part to play (ROLE).
5. Take shape - fall into place. Appropriate (TAKE), anagram (new) of PHASE.
6. Crate - old car. Constant (C in maths), speed (RATE).
7. No entry - road sign. Attempt (TRY) to follow neon rising (NOEN).
11. Videotape - recording? The question mark shows it’s just one example of a recording. About as dated as tearoom these days. Anagram (remarkable) of VOTE IPAD, simpl(E).
12. At heart - really (despite some tough clues the QC is generally quite gentle at heart). I thought the word play was intriguingly devious - try (HEAR) inside a TT (ATT).
14. Another - alternative. Anagram (alien - quite an anagram indicator - from Collins - You use alien to describe something that seems strange) of ON EARTH.
15. Status - class. Say mostly (STAT)e, American (US). COD amongst some hot contenders.
17. Imply - suggest. Only having taken the lead letter out - s(IMPLY).
18. Eros - Greek god. Resentful sore - rises (EROS).
19. Act - deed. A (A), court (CT).